Antigone Rising The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths

A smart, punchy reexamination of the ancient Greco-Roman myths, from what they can illuminate about rape culture and #MeToo to the radical imagery of Beyoncé The picture of classical antiquity most of us learned in school is framed in certain ways - glossing over misogynistic violence while ignoring, or omitting, the seeds of feminist resistance within each story. But in Antigone Rising, classicist Helen Morales reminds us that myths have subversive power because they can be told -- and read -- in different ways. And they are due for a fresh understanding. Whether it's Antigone's courageous stand against tyranny or Procne and Philomela punishing a powerful rapist, Morales uncovers hidden truths about solidarity, empowerment, and catharsis in familiar stories. Myths are still being used to justify harmful practices like diet culture and school dress codes, but people today, from climate activists to LGBTQ college students, can also reclaim them to challenge the status quo, spark resistance, and rail against unjust regimes. Fierce and unapologetic, witty and inspiring, Antigone Rising is a reckoning with the myths -- the effects they've had on us, the ways they're told and retold, and how they can empower us -- offering a fascinating new lens on the stories we take for granted.